Houston County has four sign

In hindsight, Clark Krimmer called it a “foolish decision,” but the Houston County senior made the most of a second chance opportunity. On National Signing Day, he realized the fruit of that extra effort and accepted a scholarship from Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C.

Krimmer played football as a freshman but skipped it during his sophomore and junior years.

“I wasn’t satisfied with the position I was playing and made a foolish decision and quit,” he said Wednesday.

It wasn’t entirely his choice. Krimmer fell ill during his sophomore year and lost some 30 pounds. By the time he regained his health, his passion for the game had waned. Former Houston County defensive coordinator Rex Hodges changed that.

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“Almost every day, he would see me in the hallways and say, ‘I want you to play linebacker for me,’ ” Krimmer said. “I had always wanted to play linebacker.”

Hodges left to become the head coach at Dodge County, but his talks with Krimmer paid off. He joined the team and excelled at linebacker for the Bears during 2011.

Three teammates joined Krimmer at the school’s signing ceremony. Defensive backs Addonnis Andrews and Terrance Pirkle are both heading to Willmar, Minn., where they’ll attend Ridgewater Community College. Former Bears defensive lineman Dominique Mitchell is currently on the Warriors’ roster. He helped the pair of defensive backs find the Minnesota program.

“I like it,” Andrews said of the prospect of leaving Georgia. “It’s a new feeling -- new scenery. Just to get away from Georgia is good.”

Andrews and Pirkle were both new to Houston County prior to the 2011 season. Andrews came from Dodge County, while Pirkle moved from Atlanta.

“We played the same position and helped each other out on and off the field,” Pirkle said.

Heck is returning to his roots. Houston County’s place-kicker will attend the Air Force Academy -- the site of his birth almost exactly 18 years ago.

Heck’s father Fritz is an academy graduate. Tyler Heck, Hunter’s older brother, is currently a sophomore.

That noted, Hunter Heck said he was courted by the Naval Academy during the 2011 season. The Air Force came through with an offer Dec. 21.